Finding Common Ground

Although runaway and homeless youth (RHY) agencies and domestic and sexual violence (DV/SA) programs share a mutual goal, there are inherent challenges to recognizing and understanding the intersection of runaway and homeless youth and relationship violence. Two of these challenges – the use of language and eligibility criteria that reduce runaway and homeless youth’s access to DV/SA services– are examined here. However, before exploring what makes building partnerships difficult, we identify those principles that can serve to unite both fields under a common cause: enhancing the safety and healing of young people exposed to and surviving living situations in which there is violence and abuse. Within several RHY and DV/SA partnerships, these shared principles were instrumental in fostering discussion and enhancing collaborations within their communities.

“Our family violence and runaway and homeless providers are natural allies. Both separately and together, they Family and Youth Services Bureau’s programs are creating a safety net for youth at risk of abuse and mistreatment.”

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